Shure

SHURE
HISTORY

With a history of innovation that began in 1925, Shure has turned a passion for making great microphones and audio electronics into an obsession. Shure continues to set the worldwide industry standard for superior, reliable products.

THE 1920'S

1925

Shure Radio Company is founded on April 25 by S. N. Shure as a one-man company selling AM radio kits and components. Mr. Shure’s office is located at 19 South Wells Street in downtown Chicago.

1926

Shure publishes its first direct mail catalog.

1928

Shure grows and prospers. S. N. Shure’s brother, Samuel J. Shure, joins the company. Shure Radio Company becomes Shure Brothers Company, moving to larger quarters at 335 West Madison Street in Chicago.

1929

The Great Depression grips the United States. The market for radio kits declines as factory-built radio sets become widely available. Shure becomes the exclusive distributor for Ellis Electrical Laboratories, a microphone manufacturer.

 

 

THE 1930'S

1931

Shure begins developing its first microphone, a carbon unit.

1932

Shure becomes one of only a few U. S. microphone manufacturers, with the introduction of the Model 33N Two-Button Carbon Microphone. It is a lightweight, reasonably priced product in a market then dominated by heavy and more costly units.

1933

Model 42 is Shure’s first condenser microphone. The Model 99 Modulator is Shure’s first wireless product.

1935

The Model 70 series are Shure’s first crystal microphones.

1936

First patent is received for a stylish and practical suspension support system for microphones.

1939

Model 55 Unidyne® Microphone is the world’s first single-element unidirectional dynamic microphone. Its performance qualities and distinctive styling ultimately make it the most recognized microphone in the world. Notably, the single-element design makes microphones smaller, less expensive, and, therefore, more accessible to all. Shure also introduces its first ribbon microphone, the Model 50.

 

 

THE 1940'S

1942

Shure becomes a prime supplier of microphones and headphones to the Allied Forces. The T-17B Microphone becomes the most widely used microphone by the U.S. Army and Navy. Shure develops Bakelite cases for these mics, preventing them from getting too hot to handle in armored vehicles while conserving scarce metal for the war effort.

1942-1944

The T-30V Throat Microphone, HS-33 and HS-38 Headphones, M-C1 Microphone for oxygen masks, Model 100 Carbon Microphone, and Battle Announce Microphone are manufactured for the military. Using T-30Vs, bomber crews could communicate over the extreme noise level inside the planes.

1942-1944

Shure adopts strict military standards (MILSPEC) as the standard of reliability for all products.

1946

Shure is one of the largest Original Equipment Manufacturers of phonograph cartridges in the U.S., supplying major companies, such as Philco, RCA, Emerson, Magnavox, Admiral, and Motorola.

Shure Brothers Company becomes Shure Brothers Incorporated.

1949

Shure introduces the Model 520 Green Bullet with controlled reluctance element. This eventually becomes the most popular microphone for blues harmonica.

 

 

THE 1950'S

1951

Unidyne 55S is introduced: a smaller version of the renowned Unidyne 55.

1953

Shure debuts the first handheld wireless microphone system for performers, called the Vagabond 88. Powered by two batteries, the system transmitted within a “performance circle” of approximately 700 square feet.

1956

Shure moves from downtown Chicago to a new corporate headquarters in Evanston, Illinois.

1958

Designed in cooperation with Columbia Records, the M3D Phonograph Cartridge is the world’s first magnetic phonograph cartridge for stereo LP playback.

1959

The Model 545 Unidyne III Microphone is the first unidirectional dynamic microphone that is used by speaking into the end (“end-firing”) rather than the side of the microphone. It is the predecessor to the SM57.

 

 

THE 1960'S

1964

Shure V-15 Stereo Dynetic Cartridge is one of the finest phonograph cartridges on the market. It featured a 15-degree vertical tracking angle and a symmetrical, bi-radial elliptical diamond stylus tip.

1965

The SM57 Dynamic Microphone is introduced. Rugged and reliable, it has been the White House standard for every U.S. President since Lyndon B. Johnson.

1966

Shure SM58® (“SM” for “Studio Microphone”) is introduced and soon is adopted by rock-and-roll musicians, who find it offers the right combination of rugged reliability and excellent sound quality. It quickly becomes the standard for live performance vocals. The SM58 is the most popular vocal microphone in the world.

1967

Shure Vocal Master, the first portable total sound system, includes a six-channel mixer, power amplifier, and loudspeakers.

1968

Shure enters the remote broadcasting market with the debut of the M67 Portable Mixer.

 

 

THE 1970'S

1973

The SM7 voiceover microphone is introduced. Over the next four decades, it acquires legendary status in radio, television, recording, and podcasting studios worldwide.

1978

SM81 is the first condenser microphone to combine studio quality sound with the durability required for live performance.

 

 

THE 1980'S

1981

S. N. Shure becomes Chairman of the Board, and James Kogen is promoted to President and General Manager.

1982

Shure opens a manufacturing facility in Wheeling, Illinois, a Chicago suburb.

The V15V cartridge, the finest ever produced by Shure, is introduced.

1983

Shure’s Automatic Microphone System (AMS) uses special microphones with a special mixer to provide directional voice gating for conferencing installations requiring numerous microphones.

Manufacturing plant opens in Agua Prieta, Mexico, for production of phonograph cartridges.

1984

Shure Teleconferencing division is formed to develop and market audio products for conferencing facilities.

Manufacturing plant opens in Juarez, Mexico, for production of wired microphones.

1985

Shure’s patented Home Theater Sound System offers revolutionary surround sound capabilities.

1989

Beta 57 and Beta 58 Microphones, with supercardioid polar pattern and high output level, provide unprecedented gain before feedback on concert stages.

 

 

THE 1990'S

1990

Shure L-Series Wireless introduced. Within a decade, Shure becomes a global leader in the wireless microphone market.

1991

Subsidiary opens in Heilbronn, Germany. Shure Europe GmbH provides sales, service, and support to Shure Distribution Centers in 34 European countries.

1994

T- Series, Shure’s first wireless microphone series for the retail music store market, is introduced.

1995

S. N. Shure dies at the age of 93. Rose L. Shure becomes Chairman of the Board.

LX wireless microphone series is introduced.

1996

James Kogen retires as President and Chief Executive Officer. Santo (Sandy) LaMantia is named President and CEO.

Shure offers its first digital signal processing (DSP) product, the DFR11EQ Digital Feedback Reducer.

1997

PSM® 600 Personal Stereo Monitor system enters the fast-growing market for “in-ear” monitoring systems.

1998

Shure enters the side address studio condenser market with the KSM32.

1999

Shure Asia Limited opens in Hong Kong to serve Distribution Centers and distributors throughout Asia and the Pacific Rim.

Shure Brothers Incorporated is renamed Shure Incorporated.

 

 

THE 2000'S

2002

ULX® wireless microphone series is introduced for the installed sound market.

2003

After 47 years in Evanston, Illinois, Shure moves into new corporate headquarters in Niles, Illinois.

2003

Shure is awarded the Technical GRAMMY® by the National Academy of the Recording Arts and Sciences. This award is presented by the Recording Academy to individuals and/or companies that have made outstanding contributions of technical significance to the recording industry.

Shure acquires its long-time United Kingdom Distribution Center, HW International, which is renamed Shure Distribution UK.

2004

Following the success of its E Series earphones with professional musicians, Shure enters the consumer earphone market.

SLX® wireless microphone series is introduced for houses-of-worship and retail music market.

2005

Shure opens two new facilities in China: a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Suzhou, and a sales and marketing office in Shanghai.

UHF-R® wireless microphone series introduced for the touring sound market.

2006

A Shure sales and marketing office opens in Tokyo, Japan.

2007

Shure Distribution UK opens an office in Waltham Abbey, England.

2008

Shure launches an expanded line of Microflex® Microphones for use in corporate boardrooms.

The Unidyne® Model 55 Microphone is inducted into the TECnology Hall of Fame.

2009

Shure acquires Crowley and Tripp Ribbon Microphones, and introduces new KSM353 and KSM313 Ribbon Microphones.

Shure introduces the new line of SRH professional headphones.

 

 

THE 2010'S

2010

PSM® 900 Wireless Personal Monitor System is introduced.

SE earphone series debuts.

Shure forms a new subsidiary in the Netherlands.

2011

Shure introduces its first all-digital wireless system, PGX-D, and the PSM®1000 Personal Monitor System.

Shure previews the Axient® wireless system, which detects interference and can change frequencies automatically.

2011

Shure unveils a new office and Regional Distribution Center in Eppingen, Germany.

Shure completes the acquisition of Informationsteknik/Danish Interpretation Systems, one of the world’s leading suppliers of conferencing and audio/visual systems and equipment.

2012

ULX-D™ Digital Wireless is launched, offering 24-bit audio clarity and efficient use of the RF spectrum.

2013

Shure introduces the SE846 Sound Isolating™ Earphones.

Shure begins distributing Danish Interpretation Systems (DIS) conferencing and discussion systems.

The BLX® wireless microphone series is introduced.

Microflex® Wireless becomes available for boardrooms and conferencing environments.

2014

The 75th Anniversary of the legendary Unidyne Microphone. The Unidyne Model 55 Microphone receives the IEEE Milestone Award from the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers.

Shure Distribution Benelux (integrating Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg) is formed.

Shure Russia is formed, with an office located in Moscow.

2015

Shure unveils, the MOTIV™ Digital Product Line and iOS Mobile Recording App, the KSE1500 Electrostatic Earphone System, and the SHA900 Portable Listening Amplifier.

2016

Shure Incorporated mourns the passing of its Chairman, Rose L. Shure, at the age of 95.

2016

CEO Sandy LaMantia retires. Christine Schyvinck becomes the fourth President and CEO in Shure history.

2016

KSM8 Dualdyne™ Cardioid Dynamic Vocal Microphone is unveiled as the world’s first dual-diaphragm, dynamic, handheld microphone.

Microflex® Advance™ Ceiling Array and Table Array Microphones debut.

2016

Creation of Shure France and opening of a Paris office.

2017

Axient® Digital Wireless debuts, and creates a new industry standard with unparalleled RF and audio performance.

2018

Shure expands its electrostatic listening product line with the introduction of the KSE1200 Earphone System.

The iconic Shure Unidyne® I Model 55 Microphone is added to the Art Institute of Chicago’s 20th and 21st century architecture and design permanent collection.

A Shure sales and marketing office opens in Chicago, IL. The facility includes a Shure Experience Center.

2019

New Rose Shure Experience Centre opens in London.

2019

TwinPlex™ Lavaliers and Headsets are introduced: pristine performance for any stage.

2019

MV88+ Video Kit launches, expanding on Shure’s award-winning MOTIV™ line.

2019

Shure celebrates grand opening of Hyderabad Office – the Company’s first software development center in India.

 

 

THE 2020'S

2020

The MV7 Podcast Microphone Takes Recording and Streaming to the Next Level

2020

SLX-D Digital Wireless System is Introduced

2020

Shure Acquires STEM AUDIO to Expand its Portfolio of Conferencing and Audio Solutions

2020

Logitech® and Shure collaborate to deliver exceptional user experiences through superior video collaboration solutions for meeting rooms of all sizes

2020

Shure Celebrates 95 Years in Professional Audio

2020

Shure Launches AONIC Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones and True Wireless Earphones

2020

MV5C Home Office Microphone Launches, Designed for Professionals Who Require Pristine Audio

2020

First-of-its-kind Shure Intellimix® Room Audio Processing Software is a game-changer for the AV Industry

2020

Shure Provides a Complete Conferencing Audio Ecosystem for Every Type of Collaboration Space with Expanded range of Microflex Advance™ products

2020

Duraplex is introduced: A Subminiature Microphone with Exceptional Durability and Seamless Usability

 

 

 

Shure Products

With a history of audio innovation spanning over 90 years, Shure has turned a passion for making great microphones and audio electronics into an obsession. Shure continues to set the worldwide industry standard for superior microphones and audio electronics.

 

Microphones

Whichever Shure microphone you grab, you will experience the same high quality audio performance that the industry has trusted for decades.

 

Wireless Microphone Systems

Experience the legendary Shure sound with the total freedom of a wireless solution.

 

Sound Isolating Earphones

The award-winning Earphones take audio to the next level, on every level.

 

 

Headphones

SRH Headphones offer excellent sound quality, comfortable designs and legendary Shure sound.

 

In-Ear Monitoring

Featuring incredible combinations of wireless technology know-how and unparalleled earphone designs.

 

Conferencing Solutions

Shure’s portfolio of wired and wireless audio systems is endlessly adaptable to every meeting purpose and space.

 

 

DSP, Routing & Mixing

Shure mixers and interfaces help you effectively manage multi-microphone installations in conference spaces and distance learning environments.

 

Accessories

From storage and antenna management, to connectivity and mounting, see what's available for your favorite products.